FORT COLLINS — Fort Collins is the best city in Colorado, according to someone from Fort Collins. They’re probably right.

Every large municipality in our state has its faults: Boulder is too expensive, Colorado Springs is too spread out, and Denver is too congested, among other things, if you’re not into the hum of a big city.

I tried my hardest to draw a misstep from Fort Collins existence, but I simply couldn’t find anything of note. Our northerly neighbor has it figured out—I saw it firsthand during a day in FoCo this past month. Walk with me for a moment. 

First and foremost is its commercial hub—an area that I believe epitomizes small/medium town hubs. If you’ve been to Main Street USA at Disneyland, you’ve seen Old Town Fort Collins, or at least its direct inspiration.

Harper Goff, one of Walt Disney’s right-hand men, grew up in Fort Collins. Like many natives, Goff admired his hometown—so much so that he brought it to the world’s most famous theme park. It’s charming, accessible, and jam-packed with things to do.

I know I use bars as reference points quite often in this column (don’t look into it) but they are truly marking posts for any great downtown.

Steak-Out Saloon and Trailhead Tavern are neighbors on Mountain Avenue—you could get lost in these places for a night, surrounded by locals and out-of-towners. East a half-block and up College Avenue, you’ve got Town Pump and High Point Bar, essentially side by side.

There’s a buzz along every storefront in this area, regardless of night, but especially on game day, a fall celebration on Saturdays where one of the proudest fanbases in college football cloak themselves in green and gold, and watch their team try, and often lose, at the new, gorgeous Canvas Stadium just a little way south. [Editor's note: The author of this column is a proud CU Boulder alum. Apologies to any CSU fans.]

On your way down there, stop into Avogadro’s Number. This free-spirited restaurant and bar, with a killer patio and stage out back, has been slinging good eats and drinks since 1971.

For the best food in Fort Collins, in my humble opinion, go west on Laurel and south on Shields to Jim’s Wings. It’s unassuming on the inside—less flash and more school cafeteria—but you’ll change your tune when they plop down a basket of glorious poultry in front of you.

Across the street is Moby Arena. It’s a shoebox, for lack of a better term, as far as college basketball arenas go, but that makes for one of the loudest game day environments I’ve ever heard, with fans stacked on either side of the compound going nuts for a sneakily great hoops program.

This article could be never ending: Odell Brewing and New Belgium are staples on the national stage as far as beer goes, and they both call Fort Collins home.

And if you’ve got a little extra time on your hands, soak in some tranquility at City Park—there’s a pond, plenty of green space, and rows of food trucks, depending on when you go.

Fort Collins has kid-friendly activities, notably the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery—an interactive science and local history space that’s truly impressive for a town this size.

One thing that endures, above all, however, is the people. I have never met a person from, or currently residing in, the city of Fort Collins that says they dislike it. Do you know how rare that is? Numerous people—natives, longtime residents, newcomers—wax poetic about this cozy northern Colorado city.

A recurring theme in most comments is that Fort Collins truly feels like home. The school and the city are symbiotic, and the town thrives as a result.

It’s a true testament to what can happen when a community puts itself on a pedestal. Go see for yourself.